‘2019: We’ll Mobilise Votes Against PMB, Others’

A group under the aegis of Kaduna Women Network Consultative Forum said it would mobilise votes against President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any male candidate that emerges as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2019 presidential election. President Muhammadu Buhari is likely to be the standard bearer of the APC while the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and no fewer than 10 other aspirants are jostling for the PDP’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2019 presidential election.

Also among the female presidential aspirants who had declared their interest in the 2019 presidential election were Dr Elishama Rosemary Idea of the Alliance for New Nigeria, Prof. Funmilayo Adesayo-Davis and Oluremi Comfort Sonata of Kowa Party.

But the women who converged on Kaduna yesterday said they would mobilise and cast their votes for any credible female candidate irrespective of party in the 2019 presidential election. National president of the forum, Zulai Shehu Bello stated this while speaking with Journalists on the sideline of a one-day sensitisation programme for women ahead of the 2019 elections on their decision. The programme with the theme, “For a better Nigeria, vote women” was organised by the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

She said, women are natural leaders and come 2019 they would mobilise and work for any credible female presidential candidate that would emerge ahead of the presidential election. She added that the Forum had since its formation reached out to other Nigerians raising concerns on the current male dominated politics in the country.

When asked if she would vote for APC presidential candidate or any aspirant that would emerge from the PDP, including Atiku, she said: “If we have credible women vying for president, we will vote for the woman as President and not Buhari or Atiku.”

She said the essence of the programme was to sensitize Nigerian women on the need for them to support their colleagues in the 2019 general elections across the country. “We need women to partake in politics. We are reaching out to women to come out and vote for Nigerian women. We want women in elective or appointive positions. That is why we are here and we are asking eligible Nigerians to come out and vote for women,” she added.